Update. Farewell to February 2011
| News ... In the aisles ... Campaigns ... Meal & movie nights ... Workshops & Events ... Resources ... Thanks |
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Shop Ethical! iPhone app – UPDATED It's easy to be a 'conscious consumer' when you have instant access to company information on over 2,800 products Find out the reasons for the ratings and give feedback to companies while you’re in the store. more |
News ....
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Review of Food Labelling The independent food review panel headed up by Dr Neil Blewett has made 61 key recommendations focused largely on food safety. The suggestions include voluntary front-of-pack traffic lights labeling and mandatory declaration of trans-fats. Although the panel received more than 6000 submissions, issues identified as ‘consumer values' such as palm oil concerns and animal welfare were unfortunately relegated down the priority list to voluntary industry self regulation. Read the report here. See ABC interview and comment. Also see Greenpeace comments relating to the labeling of genetic engineering. |
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Animal Welfare Labels Explained In response to broad claims like ‘free-range’, the Humane Society International has also developed a website, Animal Welfare Labels Explained, that asks what animal welfare labels really mean, and compares the different standards behind the labels and the stockists. |
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Coles criticised in milk war Coles has come under increasing pressure regarding it's discounting of home-brand milk. The claim is that its 'predatory pricing' will see farmers suffer. This follows Coles recent moves to be more ‘ethical’ with significant changes in animal welfare for its beef, pig and egg products. See our press release in response. |
>> See more at our News page.
In the aisles ....
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We’ve introduced this new section to tell stories that illustrate the very real difficulties in making better choices in the supermarket and point to some ways to make sense of the options and find positive alternatives. If you’ve stories of your own, please send them in, well post them up. Search for Sardines Trying to find some more ethical tinned fish alternatives, Nick looks at sardine choices. |
Campaigns ....
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Updated Seafood Guide Developed
in response to growing public concerns about the state of our seas,
the Australian Marine Conservation Society have released their updated
Sustainable
Seafood Guide, designed to help you make informed seafood choices
and play a part in swelling the tide for sustainable seafood. |
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GM-free Kids Edition
The 2011 Truefood
Guide Kids Edition features food and drink products marketed
at kids. For the first time this year, chip-makers Snackbrands Australia
(think CC's, Samboy, Cheezels and Thins) and Aussie pantry favourite
SPC (Goulburn Valley, IXL, and Ardmona) have committed to stop using
GM ingredients. That's all thanks to consumer pressure. |
Meal & movie nights ...
| We meet once a month in people's homes to discuss aspects of living out sustainable alternatives in a consumer culture >> presently running in Melbourne, west of the city >> Dinner 6.30 - 7.30pm, byo 'food & thoughts' to share >> Movie begins 8.00pm, wrap up by 10.30pm. >> RSVP to Nick nick@ethical.org.au or 0417 114 492. |
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Thursday
10th March – ''we feed to world',
Nick’s place, Footscray. Food, globalisation, fishermen and farmers, long-distance lorry drivers and high-powered corporate executives, the flow of goods and cash flow – a film about scarcity amid plenty. more |
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Thursday 14th April – 'end of the line'', Neesh & Shaun's place, Yarraville. Revealing our global love affair with fish as food and the impact of overfishing on our oceans. It examines the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, and the profound implications of a future world with no fish. more |
Workshops & events...
| VICTORIA | |
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NSW
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Find out more or register online here . |
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OTHER EVENTS
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Resources ...
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>> The Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping – The 2011 pocket guide is out and about. Find out about the companies behind the brands. Includes a new section on global agribusiness — the hidden companies behind our food; ‘What did you vote for today?’ centrespread, and comparison of supermarkets in Australia. more |
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>> Run your own supermarket tour – Spread to word to family, friends or people in your local network. Use this ‘how to’ guide to take a small group through the supermarket in a 60 minute session. more |
Special thanks ...
| To all people who helped out at
the Sustainable Living Festival in Melbourne
last month. Our tent and trolley attracted some fantastic conversations.
Also many thanks to those organisations contributing product samples
for the two workshops run during the festival fortnight. Olivessence
for locally sourced 'Oi Olives' (Euroa, Vic), 'Gournet Morsels Egyption
Hazelnut Dukkah' (Werribeee, Vic), 'Salute Oliva extra virgin olive
oil' (Boort, Vic). Paradise
biscuits and Goodman
Fielder for the many Australian made and owned cookies.
Encore
tissue products for the SAFE recycled toilet paper giveaway. |
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To view this newsletter online go to www.ethical.org.au/newsletters/feb2011.htm